An Abominable Fancy

  Harpy Harpies have the heads and torsos of humans and the wings, talons, and bodies of large, predatory birds. Their hands emerge from the prominent joint of their wings. Their plumage ranges from brown to slate to black, often with lighter markings. They are a distinct species from the monster of the same name. Female harpies are larger and stronger than the males, and dominate harpy society. It is common for young females to seek their fortune outside the aerie. Harpy society is hierarchical and legalistic. They are generally considered to have invented law and civil organization, and brought these concepts to the other races. Harpies appreciate precision in thought, word, and deed. This has led other races to characterize them as harsh and unforgiving.  Individual harpies may live among other races, but harpy communities are always established as remote mountaintop aeries. Donna Barr Harpy Names Harpies have a given name, a family name, and, often, a diminutive name used exclusive

My affection for harpies as a playable race comes directly from Donna Barr's art from the old Lace & Steel rpg. Lots of folks consider flying PCs to be a problem, especially at low levels. I think this is obviated if, as I am planning, the flyers are one of your core races. If you have flying PCs in mind, then you build challenges with flight in mind. Donna Barr Harpies have the heads and torsos of humans and the wings, talons, and bodies of large, predatory birds. Their hands emerge from the prominent joint of their wings. Their plumage ranges from brown to slate to black, often with lighter markings. They are a distinct species from the monster of the same name. Female harpies are larger and stronger the males, and dominate harpy society. It is common for young females to seek their fortune outside the aerie. Harpy society is hierarchal and legalistic. They are generally considered to have invented law and civil organization, and brought these c

My brain desperately needed a break from a Greek-myth-infused graphic novel I'm working on, today, so I made some Greek-myth-infused TBH classes, instead. Heinrich Kley Satyr HD: d6 Starting HP: 1d6+4 HP per Level/Resting: 1d6 Maximum Armor: Light Attack Damage: 1d6/1d4 unarmed Charming Music. Satyrs receive Advantaged CHA rolls while playing music. They must be able to play the music for 1d6 uninterrupted rounds before attempting the CHA roll. They can walk, dance, talk, sing, and dodge attacks while playing, but cannot go on the offensive. Maddening Pipes. Once per day per Level, a Satyr can drive 1HD per Level creatures into a state of extreme emotion—usually panic or ecstasy. Panicked creatures will attempt to flee for 1d6+Level rounds. This requires a successful CHA roll, and a musical instrument. Hedonist. Satyrs must make a WIS roll to resist opportunities to engage in pleasure. Iron Gut. Satyrs receive Advantage on Saves relating to poisons or other i

In my previous post of the Innocent Abroad Character Class , I think I was trying to do a few too many things at once. I'd like to break the idea down a little further: What does the baseline human adventurer look like? What would a playable untrained adventurer class look like? What would a playable all-purpose adventurer look like? I think I'll ramble on the first point, tonight. The Baseline Human Adventurer, stripped of any class benefits, looks like this: Requirements: None Hit Die: 1d4 Save as Thief Weapons: any type Armor: Any armor, any shield Would probably level at around 800 XP, like what I had for the Innocents. Pretty simple. If well-equipped, a little better in a fight than a spell-depleted MU or a Thief caught out in the open, and much better than a Normal Human. Not very useful to play, but good for evaluating other classes. The point of interest for me is the 1d4 hit die. I tend to think of 1d6 as the default hit dice, becaus

Google Image search doesn't know who drew this. My best guess at the signature is "O. Hartford," but I haven't been able to find anyone that fits that name. It's a lovely piece, though. Look at the glossy highlight in that one harpy/sirens hair! If you know anything about this piece or illustrator, I'd love to hear it. Edit: We have an ID! Writer and illustrator Oliver Herford . Wikipedia claims he was called "the American Oscar Wilde," and that he's the one who first said "Only the good die young."

Harpies by Donna Barr. Used with permission of the artist. Flying PC's can be a real hassle, because they can circumvent challenges that were planned two-dimensionally. But I think these harpies keep things pretty balanced. Let me know if I'm wrong. They are directly inspired by Paul Kidd's Lace & Steel, created in collaboration with Donna Barr. If you know Ms. Barr's work, there's no doubt the harpies were one of her contributions to the world of Middlemarch. If you don't know Donna Barr's work, then here you go, your new favorite thing: The Midnight Library. Anyway, harpies. Harpies (Lesser Harpies, Stormcrows, the Kindly Ones) Requirements : CON 9 Prime Requisite : CON Hit Dice : 1d4 Max Level : 8 Harpies have the heads and torsos of humans and the wings and bodies of large, predatory birds. Their hands emerge from the prominent joint of their wings. Although harsh and unforgiving in disposition, lesser